I've seen many many PCGS MS65BN coins that look like they deserve a 66BN or 67BN based on the lack of marks and based on the luster of the coin... however, it seems that PCGS doesn't like to give out grades higher than 65BN on brown Lincoln cents too often... for example there are tons of MS64BN 1909 VDB cents and there are over 100 examples graded MS65BN... but less than 10 have made it to MS66BN. I've seen a couple of the 66BN examples and have owned over a dozen MS65BN examples of the date and it's hard for me to tell the difference between them. MS66BN coins are rare for pretty much all dates of coins and I'm not sure any MS67BN wheat cents have been graded, I know some early copper gets that high brown grade though. Similarly, PCGS doesn't really give out grades higher than MS66RB on red-brown wheat cents very often and MS67RB examples are rare for just about every date of wheat cent. I'm pretty sure no wheat cents have ever been graded MS68RB. In summary, the numerical grade of the coin is limited by the color of the coin. Though the graders may not come out and say it, that is definitely the case based on how they are professionally graded. You can have a perfect red MS70RD Lincoln, and if that one eventually darkens to RB or BN, it'll no longer be an MS70. An interesting question then arises when the professional grading companies have grade guarantees like both NGC and PCGS do. What happens if and when an MS68RD wheat cent turns red-brown in the holder after a few years of poor storage conditions??? While neither company has a 100% guarantee of the color of the copper coins, I know PCGS will still at least guarantee the numerical grade of the coin. So would they simply call the 68RD coin a 68RB to avoid a payout???? or would they knock the grade down to 67RB or 66RB and then compensate for the reduction in numerical grade??? My guess is that it would be the latter and even though no additional marks or spots or anything other than a slight color change occured, the grade of the coin would go down a point or two. anyways, really cool woodies being posted lately!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not sure how much of this one is alloy and how much is environmental (there are both), but I still like it a lot.
CUBENEWB , please take a close look at the ' 3 ' in 1931. It looks like the lower half of it is swollen,er-too thick. Don't know what to call it. . Also the ' WE ' looks doubled to me. What do yo all think of these twpo things?? My 1931-S woodie looks normal in these tywop places.
Good question for another thread.. OT.. I know... in my short time collecting slabs, it is amazing that it was easy to all of the sudden have RB coins that are redder than some RD coins in that same year/mm and have RD coins certainly would qualify as RB if regraded same year mm.. very disheartening and now very easy to seee.................. sorry I babble
It is my understanding that they absolutely guarantee the GRADE of the copper coins... they just no longer guarantee the COLOR of the copper as red or red-brown. So for a 65RD coin, they'd guarantee that it'll always be a grade of 65, but they won't guarantee that it'll stay red, it may eventually become a 65RB or 65BN, but it wouldn't go down to 64RB or 64BN w/o compensation. Haven't heard of any claims on the guarantee yet though since the guarantee was limited with respect to copper color...
I just came across this nice Canadian wood when I was looking through some coins I haven't looked at for years, and thought I'd tack it on the end of this thread. It was in a 2x2 brown envelope for at least 15 years. I really don't remember where I got it from, but I don't think it was this nice way back when. Anyway, I just wanted to share. Bruce
The BIG question imo is what has already been asked by EyeeatWheats.... when luster affects the grading of MS66-67-68+ cents so dramatically what will pcgs and ngc grade a MS66-67-68 RD coin that was glowing RED when they slabbed it,, but has now theoritically toned completely brown due to lack of seal on thier slab, or outgassing from the plastic in thier slab, or from poor storage by the owner ? Heck,,, it may be worth it to tone a nice 67 RD cent to BRN somehow if it were common in RD and none existed in BRN just to have the top pop brown coin in the grade,,,, maybe even $$ in it,,, ya hear that Doctors ? $$$$$$ giddyup $$$$$$ ok,, new thread... lets see.